Propulsion mechanism



M. WAGNER PROPULSION MECHANI SM Nov. 23

s" Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 28 I925 Nov. 23 1926.

M. WAGNER PROPULSION MECHANISM Filed Spt. 28, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet g Nov. 23 1926. 1,607,972

M. WAGNER PROPULSION MECHANISM Filed Sept. 28 ).92b 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 23, 1926.

UNHTED STATES.

m en

MANGOLD WAGNER, 012 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

PROPULSION Application filed September This invention has to do generally with propulsion mechanisms, and is more particularly concerned witha mechanism whereby bodies may be propelled by sinuous movement of a propulsion element over or through the medium over or through which the body is to be propelled, rather than by applying rotative force thereto, as in the case of drive wheels of vehicles and of boat propellers.

The invention is applicable to wheeled vehicles, wherein the propulsion element is a wheel or set of wheels; to boats, wherein the propulsion element is a blade or paddle, or to ice boats, wherein the propulsion element is a blade adapted to be in edge contact with the ice. I have chosen to illustrate the device in connection with a wheeled vehicle as the preferred embodiment of the invention, though I have also illustrated and will briefly describe its embodiment in a boat. However, the showing and description of these particular embodiments must not be considered as limitative on the invention, but rather merely as illustrative thereof. From an understanding of the chosen embodiments, it will be apparent how the invention may be embodied in other ways, and I wish to reserve to myself any and all arrangements wherein the illustrated method of propulsion is embodied.

A better understanding of the invention will be had by passing immediately to the following detailed description, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle embodying my invention, the vehicle being broken and somewhat contracted longitudinally;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, enlarged detail, partly in elevation and partly in section, showing one method of mounting stop spring which may be incorporated in the device;

section on line 33 of Fig. 1";

Fig. 3 is a Fig. 4-. is a section on line ll of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the propulsion element swung to one side;

Fi 7 is a transverse sectional view 2: 1 1 through the beam or driving element which carries the propulsion element, as it would appear when in the position of Fig. 6;

IE'IE CHANISIYI.

28, 1925. Serial No. 58 994.

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the propulsion element swung to the other side; v r

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view through the beam as it appears when in the position of Fig. 8; and

Fig. 10 is a plan view, more or less diagrammatic in nature, showing the invention embodied in a boat propelling device.

As stated above, the invention is not limited to application to a wheeled'vehicle, but I have chosen so to illustrate it in Fig". 1 to 9, inclusive, and have shown a type of vehicle especially adapted for use by children as a toy or exerciser, propulsion being gained by the child shifting his weight on the vehicle platform. However, it will be understood this showing is not limitative on the invention. as it will hereinafter appear that the invention may be embodied in vehicles other than toys and that power from a mechanical prime mover may be applied in diiferent ways to secure propulsion.

Fundamentally, the invention consists in a propulsion element, pivotally connected to a driving member, which in turn, is pivotally connected to the'body to be propelled, and means for moving the driving member so the propulsion element moves through a sinuous path over or through the medium over or through which the body is to be moved. 7

The means for pivotally moving the driving member may be manually or mechanically operated, though I have here shown, in order to avoid mechanical complications, an arrangement adapted to receive manually applied driving force. Again, the manner of applying the manual force may vary, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, though I have here shown means whereby the force is applied through a shifting of the weight of the operator. Again, the manner of applying the power in order to cause pivotal movement of the pivoted beam may vary, within the scope of the invention, though I have here shown an inclined pivotal axis for the driving element, whereby a shifting of weight applied to the driving 'member tends to oscillate it axially and, because of the inclination of the pivotal axis, tends to swing the driving member pivotally. The above remarks are made in order that it may ieo be clear that the illustrated embodiment of the invention is merely illustrative, and that the means for accomplishing the desired end may vary to very large degree "from the illustrated and described means without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In Fig. 1 the body to be propelled is in the form of a vehicle or truck A, this truck being madeup of triangular frame 10 sup ported by wheels 11 and 12. The metho of attaching the wheels to the frame and the number of wheels employed for supporting the frame may vary from the showing of the drawings without departing from the limits and scope of this invention, considered in its broader aspects. However, in the drawings I have shown wheels 12 on opposite ends of frame-supported axle 13 while guid ing wheel 11 is carried by the forked end 14: of post 15 which is pivotally connected to the forward end of "frame 10 by pin 16, preferably slidably inclinee, and carries at its upper end, handle or steering bars 15 Numeral 17 designates a driving element, which. in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, consists of a beam having a platform 18 secured thereto, and extending laterally beyond each side thereof. Platform 18 comprises, in the chosen illustration of the invent-ion the means for applying power to the driving member for moving it in a manner to operate the propulsion element to be described. Of course, this means for mov ing the driving elementmay vary according to the nature of the power applied and manner of applying it.

In a broader sense, it is only necessary, in order that beam 17 may be pivotellv mo.ed in the requisite manner, that said beam be so connected to body A that it may move pivotally to and fro in substantially a horizontal plane. The broader claims appended hereto are. therefore, to he considered limited only to such a pivotal connection. However, in order that the vehicle may move over uneven surfaces. and in order that the driving element may be operated in the particular manner to he hereinafter described, it is necessary that the ioint between body member A and driving element l? have certain characteristics; but these characteristics are only to be considered as limitative on such claims as those in which they are specilied.

B designates generally the universal joint for pivotally connecting frame 10 t to beam 17, or generally speaking, to body A). Joint B consists of two yokes 19 and 20 secured together at 21. Horizontal pin 22 pivotally connects yoke 19 to frame 10. while yoire 20 supports a pivot pin which is inclined with respect to the vertical, and pivotally receives the vertically spaced arms 24!: on the end of beam 17. The angle of inclination of pivot 23 may be varied to suit various situations, but I find that an angle of forty-live degrees is well suited to most situations. The rear end out beam 17 has forked arms which support rear pivot pin 26 on which rear wheel supporting member 27 is pivotally mounted. ?in 26 is arranged at an angle with the vertical and is substantially parallel with pin The pivotal connection of support 2'? and the parallel relation of front and rear pivots is necessary in order that the wheels carried by said rear frame nay remain on the ground when. beam 17 is axially oscillated in the m nn to be described. The opposite ends of member 27 are forked at 28 and carry caster spindles 29, these spindles preferably extending at substantially right angles with respect to the longitudinal axis oi beam 17. Spindles 29 carry caster membe 30 which support, at the rear of spindles 29, axles 31 upon which caster wheels 32 are mounted. Wheels 32 in the illustrated embodiment of the in vcntion comprise the propulsion elements of the device, though the number of wheels or propulsion elements shown is not to be considered as limitative on the invention, considered in its l roader aspects. Members 30 have rearwardly extending crank arms 33 which are connected by drag lin. posed between member 27 and a abutments 36 which preferably, tnough not necessarily, are in the nature of compression springs. These springs form vieldable stops for arms e oo nllfl hence for the wheels in their angular movements about spindles Q9. The exact method of mounting springs 35 is not essential to this invention, but the illustrated method will serve to show one method of attachment. Referring to 52 it willbc seen that each sprin s- '35 is held to casting 36, secured at 3? to member 27. by a flange 38 on bolt v-rhich is screwed into casting 36 and extends in the opposite direction beyond flange 38 to provide a guide pin 40 for the spring. Arm 33 may have a casting ll secured thereto at 4.2 and having a guide pin 43 adapted to enter the free end of the spring when tharm and member are in certain predetermined positions. 'ngs of pprosimately equal strength so they tend to i ain member 2. and wheels 32 in the os trated in Fig. l.

I l l hen either fully compressed it finally forms a for the angular movements of the Assume that the operator is standing on platform 18 when the device is in the condition of Figs, 1 and 2 and that he shift- 1 his; weight to the right-hand side of olatform 15;

viewed in '1 beam 17 about its long. the position of 7. tion 0'? the pivotal connection (pin between beam 17 and member A, such rotation of the beam about its pivotal axis can only occur by causing coincident pivotal movement of the beam about said'pin 23. In other words, beam 17 is moved in a counter-clockwise direction about axis 23. As the beam thus swings pivotally to the side, wheels 32, by reason of their mounting, caster after it, turning, of course, on axes 29 out of their in itial parallel relation with the longitudinal axis of the beam. As the wheels turn angularly towards a position of perpendicularity with respect to the beam axis (a position which they are prevented from r aching by springs 35, as will hereinafter be de scribed) or in other words toward a position of tangentiality with respect to a circle drawn about pivot 23 as a center, the only way in which the rolling advance of the wheels and the coincident angular movement of the beam can be accommodated (assuming that body A is free to advance and that the propulsion wheels 32 have ample traction) is for pivot pin 23 and hence body A to advance; in other words, there is an end thrust exerted on the truck from the rear by virtue of the caster movement in a direction other than tangential to the pivotal axis of the beam. Spring 35 between member 27 and arm 33, which I will term the active arm during the described counter-clockwise movement of the beam, yieldingly resists angular bodily movement of the wheels, due to their connection by drag link 34, and the re sistance increases as the wheels approach a position of tangentiality with respect to the pivotal axis of the beam. This spring, when fully compressed, is adapted to provide a positive stop so the wheels may never reach such a position of tangentiality, for were they so to do, there obviously would be no advancing force exerted on body A by rotation of the propelling wheels. \Vhen the caster wheels have reached their limit or" angular movement, which limit is variable up to a certain point due to the yielding nature of the spring, the wheels have a constant tendency to side slip, but this tendency is overcome and converted into useful e'tiort.

When the child shifts his weight to the other side of the platform curing which chan e the vehicle proceeds by virtue of its momentum, beam 17 is pivotally oscillated toward and to the position of Fig. 9, and due to the inclination of pin 23, causes coincident movement of the beam to the position of Fig. 8, advancing thrust being imposed upon the truck by virtue of the caster wheel movement as described above.

Thus. wheels 32 follow a-sinuous path,

and thereby cause continuous advance of body A.

Now, it is evident that the more nearly wheels 32 are to a position of tangentiality with the pivotal axis 23 of the beam, the

greater will be the advancin force, thoughthere is a corresponding decrease in rate of advancing movement. The springs resist the movement of the wheels toward this position, and, therefore, when the operator desires to get increased power out of the device, he must swing his body weight to a greater extent. Such occasion arises when the vehicle is initially started and when it is being propelled up an incline. hen de sired speed is obtained, the operator need not swing has body as far as he did in starting, since he needs less power. By decreasing the extent oi weight shift, the springs will be compressed to a lesser degree and hold said wheels sothat they do not move angularly to such a degree as they did hetore; the speed of advance therefore being maintained or accelerated though there is a proportionate decrease in advancing force.

In Fig. 10, I have illustrated diagram- :natically how the invention may be adapted for use in propelling boats. Numeral 5O designates a boat hull, while 51 designates a driving element, which may be buoyant,

connected to said hull by joint C similar to joint B, and having a power applying member 52 similar to platform 18. Of course, the metl cd of connecting the driving element and hull, and method of oscillating said driving member axially and through a plane may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. In this case the propulsion element consists of a paddle 53 adapted to swing pivotally on pin 54 carried by beam 51. Springs 55 serve as yieldable stops for limiting the pivotal movement of the blade. It will be seen that planar oscillation of beam 17 caused by axial oscillation thereof, moves blade 53 through a sinuous path, in a 'manner generally similar to that described in connection with wheel 32, and therefore exerts a forward thrust on the boat hull, the water being the medium against which the paddle acts to cause such imposition of thrust.

It'will be understood the drawings and description are to be considered merely as illustrative of and not restrictive on the broader claims appended hereto, for various changes in design, structure and arrange ment may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of said claims.

I claim:

1. In combination,a body to be propelled, a drivingelement mounted on the body and adapted to'have substantially planar oscillatory movement, means for so oscillating the driving element, a propulsion element movably connect-ed to the driving element and adapted to have driving engagement withthe medium with respect to which the body is to be propelled, said propulsion member bei adapted to be moved by said driving member, in its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous path and thereby advance the body.

2. In combination, a body to be propelled, a driving element mounted on the body and adapted to have substantially planar oscillat'ory movement, means for so oscillating the driving element, a propulsion element pivotally connected to the driving element and adapted to have driving engagement with the medium with respect to which the body is to be propelled, said propulsion member being adapted to be moved by said driving member, in its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous path and thereby advance the body.

3. In combination, a body to be propelled, a driving element mounted near one end on the body and adapted to have substantially planar oscillatory movement, means for so oscillating the driving element, a propulsion element movably connected to the driving element near its free end and adapted to have driving engagement with the medium with respect to which the body is to be propelled, said propulsion member being adapted to be moved by said driving member, in its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous path and thereby advance the body.

at. In combination, a body to be propelled, a driving element mounted on the body and adapted to have substantially planar oscillatory movement, means for so oscillating the driving element, a propulsion element movably connected to the driving element and adapted to have driving engagement with the medium with respect to which the body is to be propelled, and means for preventing said propulsion member from moving to a position perpendicular to the longi tudinal axis of the driving member; said propulsion member being adapted to be moved by said driving member, in its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous path and thereby advance the body.

In combination, a body to be propelled, a driving element mounted on the body and adapted to have substantially planar oscillatory movement, means for so oscillating the driving element, a propulsion element movably connected to the driving elem nt and adapted to have driving engagement with the medium with respect to which the body is to be propelled, and yieldable stop means for preventing said propulsion mem her from moving to a position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the driving member; said propulsion member being adapted to be moved by said driving member, in its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous path and thereby advance the bod 6. In combination, a body to be propelled, a driving element mounted on the body and adapted to have substantially planar oscillatory moven'ient, means for so oscillating the driving element, a propulsion element movably connected to the driving element and adapted to have driving engagement with the medium with respect to which the body is to be propelled, and yieldable and resilient means for pre *enting said propulsion member from moving to a position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the driving member; said propulsion member being adapted to be moved by said driving member, in its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous h and thereby advance the body.

T. in con'ibination, a body to be propelled, driving element mounted on the body and adapted to have substantially planar oscillatory movement, means for so oscillating the driving element, a propulsion element movably connected to the driving element and adapted to have with the medium with respect to which the l s to be propelled, and means for preventi: said propulsion member from moving to positi n perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the driving member, said means being adapted to exert a varying degree of resistance to the movement of the propulsion element as it approaches and retedes from such a position of perpendicuiarity, saic propulsion member being adapted to be moved by said driving member, in its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous path and thereby advance the body. 8. lncombination, a body to be propelled,

a driving element mounted on the body and dapted to have substantially planar oscillatory movement, means for so oscillating the driving element, a propulsion element movably connected to the driving element and adapted to have driving engagement with the medium with respect to which the body is to be propelled, and means for preventing saic propulsion member from moving to position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis or the driving member, said means being adapted to exert a greater and lesser degree of resistance to the movement of the propulsion member as it approaches and recedes from, respectively, such a position of perpendicularity, said propulsion member being adapted to be moved bysaid driving member, in its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous path and thereby advance the body. 7 V 9. In combination, a body to be propelled, driving element mounted. on the body and adapted to have both axial and substantially planar oscillatory movement, axial oscillation of the element being adapted to cause planar oscillation thereof, means for axially oscillating the driving element, a propulsion element movably connected to the triving element and adapted to have driving engagement with the medium with respect to which the body is to be propelled, said propulsion member being adapted to be moved by said driving engagement driving member, in its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous path and thereby advance the body.

10. In combination, a body to be propelled, a driving elementmounted on the body and adapted to have substantially planar oscillatory movement about an inclined axis, means for oscillating the beam axially and thereby oscillating it simultaneously about said inclined axis, a propulsion element movably connected to the driving element and adapted to have driving engagement with the medium with respect to which the body is to be propelled, said propulsion member being adapted to be moved by said driving member, in its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous path and thereby advance the body.

11. In combination, a body to be propelled, a driving elementmounted on the body and adapted to have substantially planar oscillatory movement about an inclined axis, means for oscillating the beam axially and thereby oscillating it simultaneously about said inclined axis, a propulsion element movably connected to the driving element and adapted to have driving engagement with the medium with respect to which the body is to be propelled, and means for preventing said propulsion member from moving to a position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the driving member; said propulsion member being adapted to be moved by said driving member, in its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous path and thereby advance the body.

12. In combination, a body to be propelled, a driving element mounted on the body and adapted to have substantially planar oscillatory movement about an inclined axis, means for oscillating'the beam axially and thereby oscillating it simultaneously about said inclined axis, a propulsion element movably connected to the driving element and adapted to have driving engagement with the medium with respect to which the body is to be propelled, and yieldable stop means for preventing said propulsion member from moving to a position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the driving member; said propulsion member being adapted to be moved by said driving member, in its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous path and thereby advance the body.

18. In combination, a body to be propelled, a driving element mounted on the body and adapted to have substantially planar oscillatory movement about an inclined axis, means for oscillating the beam axially and thereby oscillating it simultaneously about said inclined axis, a propulsion element m-ovably connected to the driving element and adapted to have driving engagement with the medium with respect to which the body is to be propelled, and means for preventing said propulsion member from moving to a position perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the driving member, said means being adapted to exert a varying degree of resistance to the movement of the propulsion element as it approaches and recedes from such a position of perpendicularity, said propulsion member being adapted to be moved by said driving member, inv its planar oscillatory movement, through a sinuous path and thereby advance the body.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th day of Sept. 1925.

MANGOLD WAGNER, 

